Crawford County Just Received $500,000 to Bring New Residents Home
- Nikki Dudley
- May 22
- 3 min read
On May 8, Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced that Driftless Development, Inc. has been awarded $500,000 through the state's Talent Recruitment Grant program — one of 17 grants totaling $5 million awarded to communities across Wisconsin to attract out-of-state workers and their families.
Crawford County's award is among the largest in the state. And we're ready to put it to work.
Introducing Come Home to River Country
The grant funds a new initiative called Come Home to River Country — Crawford County's first dedicated program to recruit people from outside Wisconsin to put down roots here.
The program is built around a simple insight: plenty of people are already drawn to this area. They visit, they fall in love with the rivers and the landscape and the pace of life, and then they go home. Come Home to River Country is designed to close that gap — to give people who are already interested in Crawford County a real, concrete reason to make the move.
The $500,000 state award is the foundation of a total program investment exceeding $1.3 million — built from local lender commitments, employer recruiting partnerships, housing counseling services, and contributions from community partners across the county. That broader investment is what makes the program work as a true soft landing, not just a check.
At the heart of what households receive directly is a relocation incentive award ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 that can be used for the real costs of making a move: a moving truck, storage, a down payment, remodeling, digging a well or septic, temporary rent while you're closing on a home — essentially anything that helps a household get here and get settled.
On top of that, participants may qualify for additional incentives depending on where they land in Crawford County, including reduced lot prices, waived fees, free internet connection infrastructure, civic organization memberships, and more. Local bank partners and established housing counseling resources are ready to support participants from day one.
The full picture adds up to one of the most competitive rural relocation packages in the state.
The program aims to recruit 25 households over three years. Target households include remote and hybrid workers, individuals recruited by local employers in healthcare, manufacturing, skilled trades, and education, young families, mid-career professionals, and former residents with ties to the region. Applicants must currently reside outside Wisconsin and demonstrate a minimum household income of $55,000.
More details about the program — including eligibility, incentive amounts, and how to apply — are available on our program page.
Why This Matters for Crawford County
Crawford County has real assets. Employers here are actively recruiting from out of state. The cost of living is low, the quality of life is high, and the natural landscape along the Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Kickapoo Rivers is genuinely hard to match. What has been missing is infrastructure — a structured, funded way to connect people who are considering a move with the employers, housing, and community resources that make relocation possible.
This program builds that infrastructure.
"What the TRG program offers is something we didn't have before: a concrete, fundable reason for someone already interested in our area to actually make the move. For rural communities, that bridge between interest and action is everything. This program gives us the tools to close that gap."
What Comes Next
Come Home to River Country is live and accepting interest from prospective relocators now. If you know someone who has been thinking about making a move to the Driftless — a former visitor, a remote worker looking for a better quality of life, a family ready for something different — point them our way.
And if you're a local employer, housing provider, or community partner who wants to be part of welcoming new residents to Crawford County, reach out. This program works best when the whole community is behind it.
Nikki Dudley, Executive Director
Driftless Development, Inc.
608-284-8988
Comments